Photocell amplifier construction



Feb. 24, 1953 J. PANTcHEcHNlKoFF PHoTocELL AMPLIFIER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 7. 1951 INVENTQR Janqua LPmnhEnhmkuf TTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1953 PHOTOCELL AMPLIFIER CONSTRUCTION Jacques I. Pantchechnikoi, Princeton, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application December 7, 1951, Serial No. 260,443

11 claims. 1

This invention relates. generally to photoresponsive devices, and particularly relates to an integral semi-conductor device which will develop an electrical signal in response to radiant energy and simultaneously amplify such a signal.

In a copending application of Jacques I. Pantchecknikcff, Serial No. 231,195, filed June 12, 1951, entitled Semi-Conductor Photosensitive Device and assigned to the assignee of this application, there has been disclosed a photosensitive device of the type comprising a semi-conducting crystal which may, for example, be germanium provided with a light-transmitting metallic film. According to the disclosure, when this metallic lm consists, for example, of gold, copper or nickel, a photovoltaic device is obtained. As disclosed elsewhere, a photoconductive device may be obtained when the metallic film consists of bismuth or antimony. A photo-conductive device has a resistance which is a function of the illumi` nation while a photovoltaic device develops into a load an output current in response to illumination. It will be understood that a photovoltaic device also has photo-conductive properties.'

In accordance with the present invention, such a photo-responsive device which may either be photovoltaic or photo-conductive, is combined with a transistor yof the type having rectifying electrodes. However, the usual transistor which has two point contact or rectifying electrodes, such as the type A transistor, and the photoresponsive device cannot readily be combined in a single unit. The transistor is, to a certain extent, responsive to light. Accordingly, the transstor normally should be carefully shielded from light when the photoresponsive device is illuminated. Furthermore, theA usual construction ofla type A resistor having a pair of point contact electrodes or cats whiskers does not lend itself readily t-o a combination with a photoresponsive device of the type described.

, It is accordingly an object of the present invention, to provide an improved semi-conductor photosensitive and amplifier device which is compact and sensitive, which provides for effectively shielding the amplier section from the action of light.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electrode construction and shortened terminal means for a semi-conductor device of the type referred to, thereby to facilitate manufacture and to provide for any desired configuration of the electrodes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved photoresponsive device wherein a photocell of the type having a light-transmitting metallic film is integral with a transistor of the type having rectifying electrodes, thereby to enhance the light sentitivity characteristic of the device.

In accordance with the present invention, an integral semi-conductor photoresponsive and amplifier device is provided by embedding a semiconducting crystal in a block of insulating material so that a surface of the crystal is exposed and is substantially ush with a surface of the insulating block. A light-transmitting metallic llrn extends over a portion of the exposed surface of the crystal and is electrically connected to a conductor or terminal embedded in the insulating block by a coating layer which has a low electrical resistance. Preferably, the emitter and collector electrodes of the transistor are provided by a further pair of coating layers extending between another pair of conductors embedded in the insulating block and forming substantially line contacts with the crystal. The base electrode may consist of a fourth conductor embedded in the insulating block and soldered or otherwise in low-resistance contact with the crystal. Preferably, the emitter and collector electrodes consist of silver or platinum paste suspended in a volatile solvent.

The novel features that are considered charac- Figures 3 and 4 are schematic circuit diagrams.

including the device of Figure l and illustrating, by way of example, effective operating circuits therefor in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like elements are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the gures and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a device in accordance with the present invention comprising a crystal Ill of semi-conducting material such, for example, as germanium. The crystal I0 may, for example, consist of a thin wafer having a substantially rectangular top surface I2 as illustrated. The crystal I is embedded in a block I I of insulating material which may, for example, consist of polystyrene, methacrylate or any other good insulator Such as other synthetic resins, for example, gilsonite or cellulosic casting materials.

The crystal I8 preferably is embedded in such a manner that'onlyfitstop surface-l2 is exposed and is substantially vflush with the top surface I3 of the insulating block II. To this end, both the crystal I0 and the block II may be lapped or polished and thereafter the exposed surface I2 of the crystal I0 may be etched, as is conventional in the transistor art. A light-transparent lm I5 of any suitable metal .isnow evaporated.

onto a portion of the exposed surface I2 of the crystal I0 such as over approximately one half of the surface I2.

The metallic lm I5 may also extend over Aa portion of th-e top surface II. The film I5 may .consist of any suitable metal. As explained hereinbefore, if `the lm I5 consists of gold, copperor nickel, a photovoltaic device is obtained. YOn the other hand, if the film I5 consists of bismuth or antimony, a photo-conductive device is obtained. The metal film .I5 shouldbethin enough to transmit about thirty to forty per cent of the light which is .directed .upon it. On the other hand, the lm I5 shouldhave va .relatively low electrical resistancevand it has been found that a resistivity of about 500 ohms/square area is satisfactory. .Themetallic lm -I5 may be deposited by means of .the well known'vacuum evaporation technique. The operationand performance of a photovoltaic device having a gold, nickel or"copperjlm :has ybeen .described in the copending applicationqabove referred to.

`The Jphotoresponsive device is completed by means of a `lowfresistance electrode. To this end, faconductor I6;such asa wireof'an `electrically conducting metal may be embeded in the-block II. The wire IS'may have a bent portion .I'I whichmay be soldered, for example, to'the lower'surfa'ce of the .crystal I0 to provide a low-,resistance contact therewith.

The-terminal for the-metallic film I5 includes a conductor I8 which is also embedded inthe block II :and whichmayalso'consist of a metal Whichiis `afgood Aconductor of electricity. `The conductor `I8 has an exposed surface 20 kwhich is :alsosubstantially flush `with the top surface I3 tof `the .'block 1I I. A .conducting connection between i the metallic .film I5 :and :the conductor I8 isreffected by acoatinglayerzl which extends between the lm I5 .and the exposed surface 28 of the conductor I8. This coating layer 2I may be .formed of a thin layer of a metallic pastegsuchras silver or1p1atinum paste suspended inca .volatile solvent. However,.a colloidal suspension of any other conducting material may be substituted for .the silver or platinum .paste as long as a coating layer is produced having relatively low velectrical resistance. Thus, a low-resistance. path is Aprovided between the film; I 5. and the conductor I8.

In accordance with the .present invention the photoresponsive device is integral `with a tran-- sistor of the type. having rectifying electrodes. The "conductor I6 forms the base electrode of the vtransistor being in low-resistance contact with the crystal I0. The emitter and'collector electrodes areformed by a .pair of coating layers and 26 which may consist of the same ma. terial fas the -.layer ..2I and :preferably .consist I3 of the block 4 of silver or platinum paste. The coating layers 25, 26 are in rectifying contact with the crystal I8. The coating layers 25 and 26 are in contact with another pair of conductors 21 and 28 embedded in the block II and each having an exposed surface such as the surface 30 flush with the top surface I3 of the block II. rFhe conductor .27 extends straight .through the block II. The 4conductor 428 has Yan end or terminal portion which is preferably arranged in a straight line with the free end portions of the conductorsIG, I8 and 27. The conductor 28 has a bent intermediate portion 3I so that its exposed surfaceis spaced from that of the conductor 2'I.

The conducting "layers 25 and 26 extend between the l.exposed surfaces of the conductors 21, 28 and the exposed surface I2 of the crystal I0 and may easily be applied by a fine point brush. They form substantially straight edges 33 and V3II Vwhich-extend over theexposed surface I2 of the crystal I0 and which are preferably spaced from .each other a distanceof the order of a .few mils. The-coating layers 25 and 26 should be suiciently spaced from the metallic film I5 so as to prevent interaction between the photoresponsive device and the transistor device.

In accordance with .the present invention, the area in the immediate'vicinity of the .coating layers .25, 26, lwhich .represent the emitter and collector is preferably .coated with a layer 35 of `an opaque material such, for example, as Piccin wax dissolved in benzene. This willshield the transistor .or .transistor section from light which .is directed against the metallic film I5. The fcur'conductors I6, I8, Z'Iand 28 which are preferably .disposed :substantially in a straight line ymaybe spacedin sucha manner that they will ziitY asocket :for aA subminiature tube.

Since-.the metallic paste of which .the .coating layers .25, 26 :consist cannot be electrically formed, vthe transistormay be 'formed by using a pair fof :removable :.point `electrodes .between Y which an .electrical '.chargeis impressed in .the usual manner. :If desired, the .point electrodes maybe vmoved sc as to form or treat anextended Aarea `of the exposed .surface zI2 of the crystal .I.8.

The photoresponsive device is primarily sensitive 'to visible and'infra-red light which may have Aa lwave length of approximately two microns-.or less.

'Figure 3 illustrates, by -way Tof example, 'an electric circuit 'for operating `the device illustrated in Figures lfand .2. 'The circuitof Figure 3 may `vbefconsidered a grounded base .transistor having 4*emitter input and :collector output. Accordingly, the base I6 .is grounded .as shown. A suitable source of voltage -such as abattery 40 has its positive terminal grounded, while its negative terminal is Aconnected to the film I5 througha resistor4l. The lm I5'isaccordingly negative with .respect to thel `base I6. The collector 26 is connected to rthe negative terminal of 'the .battery '48 through an output resistor 42. Another source of voltage such as a'battery f43 has its negative terminal grounded while its :positive terminal Lis :connected to A'the emitter :25 through .a resistor M thereby .maintaining the Vemitter at fa :positive rpotential `.with respectv 'to .the l'base I6. A `coupling .capacitor i5 couples the nlm I5 to theemitter125.

The'circuit of;Figuref3.1Jperates.in thefollowing manner: Light developed/by :a .light source 4.6

which may 'contain infra-red'or visible light is directed, for example, by a lens 41 toward the film I5. In response to a short pulse of light, the electricresistance between the film I and the base I6 is reduced so that a larger current flows through the resistor 4I. Accordingly, the potential of the film I5 is momentarily raised as indicated by the pulse 48. This positive pulse is impressed through the coupling capacitor 45 on the emitter where it appears as apositive pulse 50. This positive'pulse is thenamplified by the transistor, and an amplified Vpositive pulse 5I appears at the collector and may be obtained from the output terminals 52, one of which is grounded while the other is coupled to the collector 26 through acoupling'capacitor 53.V

Instead of coupling the vfilm I5to .the emitter 25, it is also feasible to provide a grounded emitter transistor amplifier which is coupled to the photoresponsive device through a base coupling impedance element. Such a circuit is illustrated in Figure 4 to which reference is now made. The emitter 25 is grounded as shown, while the base I'6 is grounded through a coupling resistor 55. When a pulse of light from the source 46 is directed upon the film I5, a larger current flows between the film I5 and the base I6 so that a4 negative pulse shown at 56 is developed across the base resistor 55. This pulse is again amplied by the transistor and a positive and amplined output pulse 51 is developed at the collector 26 which may be obtained from the output terminals 52.

The polarities of the batteries 46 and 43 of Figures 3 and 4 are poled to provide the correct voltages for an N type crystal I0. If the crystal III should be of the P type, the polarities of the batteries should be reversed. In Figure 4 bias battery 43 may be omitted because due to the provision of the base resistor 55, the base I6 will be negative with respect to the emitter 25 thereby providing the required bias between emitter and base.

A voltage of approximately -5 volts should be applied to the film I5. The transistor section has been found to have a gain of 14 db with an emitter current of 0.6 milliamperes and a collector voltage of 5.5 volts. The input impedance was found to be 200 ohms as was the output impedance.

There has thus been disclosed an improved integral photoresponsive and amplifier device. The device of the invention is compact; it has short electrode terminals or leads, is easy to manufacture, stable and of small size. The emitter and collector electrode may easily be protected against the action of light and consist of a conducting coating layer that may assume any desired configuration.

What is claimed is:

l. An integral semi-conductor photoresponsive and amplifier device comprising a semi-conducting body, insulating means for embedding said body with at least one surface exposed, a light transmitting metallic film extending over and contacting a portion of said exposed surface, means providing a first, a second and a third conductor, a first coating layer for said insulating means interconnecting said film with said first conductor, a second coating layer for said insulating means extending between said second conductor and said exposed surface, a third coating layer for said insulating means extending between said third conductor and said exposed surface, said coating layers consisting of low-resist- 6. ance material, and said second and third coating layers being spaced from said fihn and having substantially straight closely adjacent edges extending over a portion of said exposed surface.

2. An integral semi-conductor photoresponsive and amplifier device comprising a semi-conducting. body, a block of -insulating material within which said body is embedded so that a surface of said body is exposed and is substantially flush with a surface of said block, a light transmitting film of metal extending over and contacting a portion of said exposed surface, a rst, a second vand a third conductor embedded in said block andfspaced from said crystal, each of said conductors having an exposed surface substantially fiush with said surface of said block, a'rst coating layer interconnecting said film with said first conductor, a second coating layer extending between the exposed surface of said second conductor and the exposed surface of said body, a third coating layer extending between the exposed surface of said third conductor and the exposed surface of said body, said coating layers consisting of low-resistance material, and said second and third coating layers being spaced from said film and having substantially straight closely adjacent edges extending over a portion of the exposed surface of said body.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said second and Vthird coating layers consist of a metallic paste.

4. An integral semi-conductor photoresponsive and amplifier device comprising a semi-conducting body, a block of insulating material within which said body is embedded so that a surface of said body is exposed and is substantially fiush with a surface of said block, a light transmitting film of metal extending over and contacting a portion of said exposed surface, a first, a second and a third conductor embedded in said block and spaced from said crystal, each of said conductors having an exposed surface substantially flush with said surface of said block, a first coating layer of low-resistance material interconnecting said film with said first conductor, a second coating layer of a metallic paste extending between the exposed surface of said second conductor and the exposed surface of said body, a third coating layer of a metallic paste extending between the exposed surface of said third conductor and the exposed surface of said body, said second and third coating layers being spaced from said film `and having substantially straight closely adjacent edges extending over a portion of the exposed surface of said body, and a fourth conductor embedded in said block and in lowresistance contact with said body.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said metallic paste is composed substantially of silver.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said metallic paste is composed substantially of platinum.

7. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said conductors extend away from said block and are disposed substantially in a straight line.

8. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said film consists of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, copper and nickel, thereby to provide a photoresponsive device which is photovoltaic.

9. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said nim consists of a metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth and antimony, thereby to provide a photoresponsive device which is photoconductive.

mangues `sive and amplier device comprising "a :semiconductingvbody, :a block of insulatingmaterial Within lWhich-said body is `embedded so ythat 1a surface `of said ibody is y exposed and ais .substantially ,ush with a surface of said block.a.1ight transmitting lm of metal extending over and contacting a predetermined portion .of :said fexposed surfac.e,za'rst, a second `and a'thrd con.- ductor embedded in said :block .and vspaced from said -crystaL .each of said conductors havngfoan exposed surface .substantially ush with said surface.of;said'block,a rstfcoating layer interconnecting said lm Vwith ,said rst conductor, a lsecond ..coatng layer Aextending between zthe exposed surface of said second .conductonandthe exposed surf-ace of said body, :a -third coating layer extending ;.between the .exposed suracenf said'thii'dvconductor and the exposed surfacefof said body; said .coating layers consisting :of 'sa metallic paste, said second and third coating layers being- `spaced Vfrom said lm :andi-having substantially. straight closely adjacent fedges -extending over a portion of the exposed surface rof saidrbody, a vfourtnconductor embedded iti-.said 1 block :and in low-resistance Contact with said body-,sand a furthercoating layer of anopaque material covering said second and third/coating layers and the area'intheir immediate ivicinity. 11. Asemi-'conductor device comprisinga semi conducting daddy. in' :bleek of 'insulating :material within which seaid bodyiis femhedded, :Said fbndy having :en exposed surface :substantially 4flush with a surfacemf x saidrblock, eirstiand ia :second conductor @embedded in zsaid block and spaced from :.said iclystal, each of ssaid yseonductruss :hav-

z :ing @an .exposed ssur'f ace substantially :flush 'with j said .surface of vsaid gblock, @a #first coating il'ayer `posed surface of said rbody, :a second eating layer of :a vmetall'c :paste Aattending f'between A`the exposed fsurface of i-said :second :conductor and the exposed surface of fsad "body, isaid locating layershaving@substantiallystraight closelyadja-l cent .edges extending #across the exposed surface of said body, and -a '-.thrd Aconductor embedded in fsaid'fblook and iin -ilowfresistance Acontact with REFERENCES `*CIT.ED

".The "following .references hare of wrecord lin the 111e :o'f this patent; 

